Burial system with reuseable outer casket

ABSTRACT

A burial system comprising an outer, reuseable casket and an inner coffin. The casket and coffin are provided with means to suspend the side and end walls of the casket from the coffin. Locking pins retain such side and end walls of the casket in suspended assembly around the coffin.

United States Patent [1 1 Owens.

[111' 3,815,185 14 1June 11, 1974 BURlAL SYSTEM WITH REUSEABLE OUTER CASKET [76] Inventor: Alfred Owens, 1 16 Alta Vista Ave., Waterloo, lowa 50703 221 Filed: Feb.9, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 331,264

[52] US. Cl 27/3, 27/19 [51] Int. Cl A61g 17/00 [58] Field of Search 27/2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 19, 35, 27/4; 220/4 R, 4 F, 63 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1933 Scott 27/7 3/1933 Scott....

2/1935 Zinser 2,103,547 12/1937 Morris 27/5 3,545,055 9/1968 Pare 27/7 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 232.457 6/1959 Australia 27/3 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-G. F. Dunne Attorney, Agent, or FirmDona1d D. Jeffery 5 7 ABSTRACT A burial system comprising an outer, reuseablecasket and an inner coffin. The casket and coffin are provided with means to suspend the side and end walls of the casket from the coffin. Locking pins retain such side and end walls of the casket in suspended assembly around the coffin.

6 .Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 1 I 1914 3.815; 1 8 5 SHEU 2 or 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates as indicated to a burial system with'a reuseable outer casket, and relates more particularly to a burial system comprising an inner coffin which can be interred at the grave site, and a reuseable outer casket which can be disassociated from the coffin at the grave site after the ceremony and reused. In this manner, the outer casket can be constructed having primarily in mind the esthetic qualities of the casket thereby achieving the effect of elegance found only in relatively expensive caskets. As generally known, the predominant cost of burial today is the price of the casket itself. v

In the description which follows, it will be noted that the terms casket and coffin have been used for purposes of clarity to describe the omen-reuseable member and the inner member in which the body is interred. Actually, these terms are used synonymously in the art, and the above terminology is used simply for convenient distinguishing reference.

In an attempt to lower the costs of burial, there have been several suggestions in the art that an outer reuseable casket be used in combination with a relatively inexpensive inner, burial coffin. Examples of such arrangement are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 1,128,865; 3,133,334; 3,050,818; 3,613,189, and 3,654,676. Although the structures disclosed in these patents do generally achieve the intended result, the two part assemblies are relatively complicated and thus costly, and typically provide for guided movement of the burial coffin from the outer, reuseable casket.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With the above in mind, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a two part burial system comprising an ornate, outer casket which can be reused, and a relatively inexpensive and smaller inner coffin in which the body is interred.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a burial system in which the casket and inner coffin are constructed and arranged to provide, when associated, the appearance of a unitary casket having the desired esthetic features. In accordance with the invention, the outer casket is comprised of separate sides and ends adapted to fit around the burial coffin, with the sides and ends of the outer casket and the inner coffin being provided with cooperating means to permit suspending of the outer casket from the inner coffin. A lid is provided for the outer casket and is hinged to one of the separately formed sides.

It is accordingly a further object of the present invention to provide a burial system in which the outer casket and inner coffin can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled after the burial service.

These and other object will become apparent as the following description proceeds in particular reference to the application drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION DRAWINGS FIG. l 'comprises a perspective view of theouter casket and inner coffin, with these members being shown assembled and the lid hinged to one of the sides of the outer casket being shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, with the outer casket being shown disassembled from the inner coffin;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line -33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view of the locking pin, with the retainer being shown in a vertical position, and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing the retainer in its horizontal, locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now indetail to the application drawings, in which like parts are indicated by like reference numerals, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer, reuseable casket is generally indicated at 10, and the inner coffin in which the body is interred is generally indicated at 12. The latter can be made of any suitable, comparativelyinexpensive material such as fiberglass or the like, and includes side walls 14 and 16, end walls 18 and 20, and a bottom wall 22 (FIG. 3) all of which are integrally formed, for example, by molding or the like. If desired, in order to improve the appearance of the burial coffin, the interior faces of the side and end walls may be tufted as shown at 24. It will be understood that the interior of the burial coffin will be exposed when the body is laid out so that some type of decorative covering for the interior of the coffin is normally desirable.

The outer, reuseable casket 10 comprises side walls 26, 28 and end walls 30,32, with the side wall 28 in the form shown having a lid 34 secured thereto by a hinge 36. The inner faces of the side and end walls of the outer casket are preferably planar for contiguous contact with the outer walls of the coffin 12. The exterior faces of the side and end walls and the top of the designated at 38 are mounted at the exterior of the side walls 26 and 28 for carrying the assembled casket. Each side and end wall of the casket 10 is formed with an inwardly extending bottom flange commonly designated at 39 (FIG. 3) which extends under the bottom of the coffin 12 for lifting the latter when the casket 10 is raised by the handles 38.

A plurality of generally L-shaped supporting brackets commonly designated at 40 are mounted in spaced relation on the top surfaces of the side walls 26, 28 and the end walls 30, 32 of the outer casket 10. As best seen in FIG. 4, each'supporting bracket includes a laterally extending'portion 42 secured to the associated wall, in this case end wall 30, by means of mounting screws 44, and a downwardly extending terminal portion 46. In the form shown, four of such brackets are mounted on each of the side walls 26, 28, and two of such brackets are mounted on the end walls 30 and 32.

A corresponding number of openings 48 are formed in the top surface of the coffin 12, with the openings 48 being spaced so that each receives the downwardly extending portion 46 of the support bracket 40 when the side and end walls of the outer casket are disposed con- 7 tiguous the inner coffin. As shown, the openings 48 are slightly greater in depth and similar in width to the dimensions of the portion 46 of the bracket, with a lateral countersunk opening 50 being preferably formed in the top surface of the side and end wallsof the coffin to receive the laterally extending portion 42 of the support bracket so that the top surfaces of the casket and coffin are flush when assembled.

It will thus be seen that the side and end walls of the outer casket can be suspended from the inner coffin simply by aligning the support brackets 40 with the openings 48 and then lowering the outer casket walls so as to position the terminal portions 46 of the support brackets'in the openings 48 formed in the inner coffin. The walls of the outer casket are thus supported completely by the inner coffin, with the assembly and disassembly of the outer casket walls being effected simply and quickly. No additional connecting means between the casket and coffin is required other than the supporting brackets and their associated openings in the inner coffin.

In order to interconnect the side and end walls of the outer casket after they have been suspended from the inner coffin, the vertical side edges of each side and end wall of the outer casket are bevelled, as shown in 52 in connection with end wall 30. The bevelled angle is approximately 45, and the length of the side and end walls is such that the confronting side edges of the side and end walls are contigous when the latter are suspended from the inner coffin.

Each bevelled edge of each side and end wall has mounted thereon a hinged section having a plurality of cylindrical socket sections extending vertically along the edge in spaced relation. Thus, referring to the side edges shown at the forefront of FIG. 2, the adjacent side edge of the end wall 32 is provided with socket sections commonly designated at 54, and the adjacent side edge of the side wall 26 is formed with socket sections commonly designated at 56. The socket sections are spaced vertically on the respective members so that when the side and end walls are suspended from the inner coffin, the socket sections interleave to form a hinge joint which is not exposed to the exterior of the outer casket. The cylindrical socket sections can be embedded in the side edge and the opposite side edge grooved as shown at 58, for example, to receive the complimental socket section provided on the adjacent wall member. In this manner, the side edges of the adjacent members can be maintained flush and the hinge sections completely hidden from the exterior of the casket.

A locking pin generally indicated at 60 is provided for insertion downwardly through the aligned socket sections when the walls of the outer casket have been suspended from the inner coffin. As shown in FIGS.

and 6, the locking pin 60 is of cylindrical configuration and is formed with a groove 62 extending partially therethrough adjacent the top thereof. Received within the groove 62 is a generally cylindrical shaped retainer 64 which is pivotally mounted to the pin 60 by means of pin 66. The retainer 64 is loosely received in the slot 62 whereby the same can be moved from a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 5, to a position generally perpendicular to the axis of the locking pin, as shown in FIG. 6. As noted, the groove 62 does not extend entirely through the pin 60, with a segment 68 remaining. Slots 70 and 72 extend downwardly the length of groove 62 on either side of the segment 68 thereby effectively separating the same at the sides thereof from the pin 60, with the segment thus being cantilevered relative to the pin at the bottom of the groove 62. The lower end of the retainer 64 below the pin 66 is of slightly greater dimension than the distance from the pin 66 to the adjoining face of the segment 68 whereby the latter is forced outwardly .when the retainer 64 is moved from its vertical, FIG. 5 position to its horizontal, FIG. 6 position. Such outward movement of the segment 68 serves to press the same tightly against the surface of the adjoining hinge socket, thereby to tightly secure the locking pin in the socket.

When the side and end walls of the outer casket have been suspended from the inner coffimlocking pins are inserted downwardly through the hinge sockets at each corner of the casket. As each locking pin approaches its fully inserted position, the retainer 64 is pivoted to the position thereof shown in FIG. 6 thereby to limit the downward movement of the locking pin through the sockets of the hinge. Movement of the locking pin terminates when the retainer 64 engages the top surfaces of the side and end walls of the outer casket, and the retainer may if desired be rotated to align the retainer with the joint edge. When the retainer is rotated, the segment 68 is pressed outwardly as described thereby providing a tight joint fit.

To remove the outer casket following the burial service, the locking pins 60 are raised at each comer of the outer casket thereby permitting each side and end walls to be lifted from its engagement with the inner coffimAfter the walls of the outer casket, including the lid, have been so removed, the inner casket can be interred. Although not shown, it will be understood that the inner casket is provided with a lid or cover which can be tightly selaed on the inner casket at the time of burial. I

1. A casket assembly comprising:

a. an inner coffin including bottom, side and end walls interconnected to form a container adapted to receive the body to be interred, said inner casket being formed with a plurality of predeterminedly spaced openings in the top surfaces of said side and end walls;

b. an outer casket comprising separate side and end walls, the side and end walls of said outer casket enclosing said inner casket when positioned therearound, each of said side and end walls of said outer casket being provided adjacent the top surfaces thereof with laterally and downwardly extending brackets received in said openings formed in said inner casket when said side and end walls of said outer casket are disposed therearound, the outer casket thereby being supported by and suspended from said inner casket, and

c. means removably connecting the adjoining'edges of said side and end walls of said outer. casket whereby the same may be readily removed from around said inner casket before the body is in terred, whereby said outer casket can be reused. 2. The casket assembly of claim 1 wherein the vertical side edges of each of said side and end walls of said outer casket are bevelled so that when the adjacent edges of said walls are in confronting abutment only the outermost edges of said walls are exteriorly exposed.

3. The casket assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for removably connecting the adjoining edges of said side and end walls of said outer casket comprise hinge means separately attached to each of the vertical edges of said side and end walls, each of said hinges comprising spaced loop portions adapted to interleave with the adjacent loop portions of the adjoining hinge thereby to form, when so interleaved, a cylinder extending downwardly through the joint of the interconnected side and end members, and pin means extending through said cylinder for maintaining the joint connection between adjacent side and end members.

4. The casket assembly of claim-3 wherein said pin means comprises a cylindrical pin and a separate retainer pivotally attached to the pin at the top thereof about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pin, said pin being formed with a groove to receive said retainer whereby the latter can be pivoted from a position generally concentric with the pin to a position generally perpendicular thereto for limiting the downward movement of said pin.

5. The casket assembly of claim 4 wherein said pin is formed with an independently movable segment adjacent and defining one side of said groove, the portion of said retainer below the pivot axis thereof being dimensioned so as to press said segment outwardly when said retainer is moved to a locking position thereby tightly engaging said segment with the adjoining socket hinge to provide a tight joint.

6. The casket assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner casket is made of fiberglass and the side and end walls and the top of said outer casket are of metal capable of withstanding repeated use of said outer casket. 

1. A casket assembly comprising: a. an inner coffin including bottom, side and end walls interconnected to form a container adapted to receive the body to be interred, said inner casket being formed with a plurality of predeterminedly spaced openings in the top surfaces of said side and end walls; b. an outer casket comprising separate side and end walls, the side and end walls of said outer casket enclosing said inner casket when positioned therearound, each of said side and end walls of said outer casket being provided adjacent the top surfaces thereof with laterally and downwardly extending brackets received in said openings formed in said inner casket when said side and end walls of said outer casket are disposed therearound, the outer casket thereby being supported by and suspended from said inner casket, and c. means removably connecting the adjoining edges of said side and end walls of said outer casket whereby the same may be readily removed from around said inner casket before the body is interred, whereby said outer casket can be reused.
 2. The casket assembly of claim 1 wherein the vertical side edges of each of said side and end walls of said outer casket are bevelled so that when the adjacent edges of said walls are in confronting abutment only the outermost edges of said walls are exteriorly exposed.
 3. The casket assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for removably connecting the adjoining edges of said side and end walls of said outer casket comprise hinge means separately attached to each of the vertical edges of said side and end walls, each of said hinges comprising spaced loop portions adapted to interleave with the adjacent loop portions of the adjoining hinge thereby to form, when so interleaved, a cylinder extending downwardly through the joint of the interconnected side and end members, and pin means extending through said cylinder for maintaining the joint connection between adjacent side and end members.
 4. The casket assembly of claim 3 wherein said pin means comprises a cylindrical pin and a separate retainer pivotally attached to the pin at the top thereof about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pin, said pin being formed with a groove to receive said retainer whereby the latter can be pivoted from a position generally concentric with the pin to a position generally perpendicular thereto for limiting the downward movement of said pin.
 5. The casket assembly of claim 4 wherein said pin is formed with an independently movable segment adjacent and defining one side of said groove, the portion of said retainer below the pivot axis thereof being dimensioned so as to press said segment outwardly when said retainer is moved to a locking position thereby tightly engaging said segment with the adjoining socket hinge to provide a tight joint.
 6. The casket assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner casket is made of fiberglass and the side and end walls and the top of said outer casket are of metal caPable of withstanding repeated use of said outer casket. 